South Africa’s 8 Vultures South Africa’s 8 Vultures South Africa has 8 regularly occurring and breeding vulture species, from the southern African endemic Cape Griffon Vulture (Gyps coprotheres), to the wide-spread and wide-ranging African White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus). Drakensberg mountains - perfect Bearded Vulture habitat. Photo (c) Barry Forbes One of my favorite – and always a thrill to see – is the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetes barbatus). The Bearded Vulture evidently gets its strong, rich colours from wallowing in and rubbing up against iron-rich dust and rocks in the mountainous habitat in which they live; and captive birds can often turn almost pure white if they have no source of external colouring ( Brown & Bruton. 1991. J Zool ). The southern and East African subspecies of the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis) is most easily told from the nominate Eurasian subspecies by the little black stripe behind the eye of the latter.

You can clearly see this little line out to the ear of the bird in the title photo above (making it obvious that I was trying to pass off one of my digiscoped photos of European Bearded Vultures for a southern African one). According to a 2008 academic paper, the dark ear tufts may help to warm the air in and around the ear ( Margalidaa, Negrob & Galvánc. 2008. Comp Biochem Physiol A Comp Physiol ). Cape Griffon Vulture gliding by in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg. Swarovski Scope & Canon A590 Cape Vultures heading out of the Drakensberg on a search for food The Cape Griffon Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is a very large vulture, similar in size, coloration and habits to the Eurasian Griffon . The Cape Vulture typically nests communally on cliffs, restricting their breeding distribution, but wanders huge distances in search of carcasses. A majestic and powerful bird. Egyptian Vulture - was thought to be regionally extinct.

Swarovski Scope & Canon A590 When an adult Egyptian Vulture glided over us in a remote area of the Eastern Cape (Transkei) in 2000, we all new immediately what it was (3 cars filled with ornithologists), despite the bird having been thought to be extinct in the region and not regularly occurring for many thousands of kilometers. Subsequent sightings in the same area over the last decade suggest that a tiny population persists of this fascinating bird. Palmnut Vulture by Rainbirder cc on flickr. Raffia Palm reserve in Mtunzini - a reliable spot for Palmnut Vulture The Palmnut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) is locally common in places along the KwaZulu-Natal north coast (far north eastern South Africa near Mozambique), particularly where the Raffia Palm (Raphia australis) is common. The strangest / coolest thing about the Palmnut Vulture, besides its fantastic colouring, is that they are mostly vegetarian; feeding primarily from the flesh of the palm fruits. Hooded Vulture. Swarovski Scope & Canon 1000D Lappetfaced Vulture.

Swarovski Scope & Canon 1000D White-backed Vulture. Swarovski Scope & Canon 1000D White-headed Vulture. Swarovski Scope & Canon 1000D The four typical savanna vultures – Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus), White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus), Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) and White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis) – can all, with a dose of luck, be seen together at a carcass. I have always had lots of luck in Kruger National Park, oftentimes finding a single lion kill surrounded by large numbers of White-backed Vultures and scatterings of each of the other three. The bully of the crowd is definitely the huge Lappet-faced Vulture, followed by the power-in-numbers White-backed Vultures, and then the somewhat more shy White-headed Vultures and Hooded Vultures.

Oh, one last vulture that is sometimes seen in South Africa is the Rüppels Griffon Vulture, with regular sightings at the Blouberg Cape Vulture colony in far northern South Africa. Happy birding, Complete List of Vulture Species and Types By Melissa Mayntz Updated August 22, 2016. Vultures are often underappreciated, misunderstood birds. While there may be only 23 vulture species in the world - depending on how individual species are split or lumped by different organizations - each one of them fills a vital ecological niche. All of these birds help clean up the environment by eating carrion , which prevents the spread of diseases from old, rotting carcasses. Those diseases could affect other birds and wildlife, including humans, and could impact soil and waterways as well, contaminating crops and water sources with dangerous bacteria and infections. Unfortunately, 14 of the vulture and condor species in the world - more than half of the total vulture species - are considered threatened or endangered , some of them with significant population losses in recent years.

Because of a range of different threats , including poisoning, vehicle collisions and electrocution, these vulture populations will continue to decline without urgent help. continue reading below our video 7 Hobbies That Can Make You Money Learning more about these unique birds is the first step toward effective conservation, and the first thing to learn are the different types of vultures and their common and scientific names. How many different vulture species do you know? Can you name all the vultures? Types of Vultures There are two general classifications of vultures - Old World vultures and New World vultures. While both types share striking characteristics and occupy the same environmental niche as "nature's clean up crew" there are actually great geographic and evolutionary distinctions between them. New World Vultures These vultures are found only in the New World of North and South America, from Canada to Argentina as well as in the Caribbean. They belong to the scientific family Cathartidae , and include seven species of vultures and condors. These birds are most closely related to storks and herons rather than other true raptors, though they are often discussed as birds of prey because of their carnivorous diets .

New World vultures typically have an excellent sense of smell, though the degree they use their sense of smell varies among the different species. Old World Vultures These vultures are found throughout Europe, Asia and Africa and belong to the Accipitridae bird family. They lack a strong sense of smell, but still have amazingly acute vision to locate food sources by sight. These vultures are most closely related to other raptor species in their scientific family, including eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. Like their New World cousins, these birds are also carnivorous. A total of 16 vulture species are considered Old World species, though future splits or lumps between similar species could change that total. Both New World and Old World vultures look similar with their bald or nearly bald heads, heavy bodies and hooked bills. The two distinct groups also act similarly when they scavenge on carcasses and carrion, often gathering in large groups at suitable food sources. Ornithologists have investigated the different species through genetic testing and analysis, now believe those similarities are due to convergent evolution. Both groups of birds evolved independently and are not closely related in genetic or biological terms.

Instead, they developed their close similarities because of similar environmental needs during the eons of their evolutionary process. Alphabetical List of Vulture Species Sorted by Common Name * - Considered threatened or vulnerable due to population decreases and growing survival threats ** - Listed as endangered and in critical danger of extinction if conservation is not implemented (Classifications by BirdLife International) Note: New World vultures are denoted by NW - all other species belong to the Old World vultures classification. Vulture | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants FAMILIES: Cathartidae (New World) and Accipitridae (Old World) GENERA: 14 SPECIES: 23 ABOUT What makes a vulture? They may not be the prettiest birds of prey, but the world would be a smellier place without vultures! All vultures have a wide wingspan, which allows them to soar for long periods of time without flapping so much as a feather while looking for carrion to eat. They all have a sharp, hooked beak for ripping apart meat. Vultures are large compared to other birds.

Their bald head and neck serve a useful purpose, allowing vultures to steer clear of infection and tangled feathers when eating decaying meat. A strong immune system allows vultures to eat rotting and possibly infected meat without getting sick. These unusual birds are divided into two groups: New World vultures, which are from North, Central, and South America; and Old World vultures, which live in Africa, Asia, and Europe. New World vultures have a distinctive bald head, an adaptation that helps reduce the risks of disease, because bacteria could become lodged in feathers, while the bald head and neck may be disinfected by the sun’s rays. New World vultures have nostrils that are long and horizontal, with a space between them. They do not have a voice box, so they cannot make any sound except hisses and grunts. New World vultures don’t build nests; instead, they lay their eggs in holes on high rocky surfaces or in tree cavities. Some examples of New World vultures are turkey vultures, black vultures, king vultures, California condors , and Andean condors . Old World vultures look like their eagle and hawk relatives.

They have large, grasping talons, a voice box to vocalize with, and build nests made of sticks on rocky platforms or in trees. Old World vultures have also been around longer than the New World vultures. They have stronger feet than the New World vultures, which have feet that are not designed for grasping, and large, broad wings that allow them to stay aloft for most of the day, and a large, powerful beak with a hooked tip. Some other examples of Old World vultures are Himalayan, Egyptian, hooded, Indian black, and palm-nut vultures, and Egyptian or Eurasian griffons. Although New World vultures are unable to make more than hissing and grunting sounds, Old World vultures can be quite vocal when feeding at a carcass, making lots of grunts, croaks, screeches, and chatter. White-backed vultures croak plaintively or squeal like pigs during a meal. Bearded vultures scream while rolling and twisting in flight during courtship. Not many animals threaten vultures. Covered as they are with bacteria, they would make most predators sick if eaten.

Other scavengers may threaten the vulture, mainly to get better access to a shared carcass. Vultures tend to gorge themselves, often to the point of being unable to fly. If they feel bothered as they stand about digesting their food, they simply regurgitate to lighten the load and fly off. Many people look at the vulture as a sign of death, but some cultures admire the birds. Ancient Egyptians connected the Egyptian griffon to their goddess Nekhbet, guardian of mothers and children. Griffon images are found in early Egyptian paintings and drawings and even had a place on the crown of the pharaoh, alongside the cobra. In Native American culture, California condors are important in mythology and burial rituals. Vultures are also important in India, as they help remove dead animals without spreading disease. In other parts of Asia, religious and cultural traditions call for the carcasses of domestic animals to be left out for “disposal” by vultures. In some regions, even human remains are left out for the vultures prior to burial. Vultures may not have the cleanest job, but you will never hear them complaining! HABITAT AND DIET Home is where the food is!

Vultures are pretty flexible when it comes to their habitat, as long as there is food, although you won’t find them in Australia, polar regions, or most small islands. They are pretty adaptable in different environments. Vultures are scavengers. They usually eat carrion, although sometimes they attack newborn or wounded animals. It seems that once food is located, the information is relayed rapidly to other vultures in the vicinity. Once one vulture lands, many more land and join in the feast. Because vultures are generally quiet, it is likely that the information is passed visually by behavioral cues for one bird to another until a regular orgy of eating begins. Vultures tend to look at any meal as a Thanksgiving meal, so they eat as much as they can, because they never know when they will find their next meal—and it could be as long as two weeks before they do! Like many other birds, vultures have a throat pouch called a crop that can store food for eating at a later time or can be regurgitated to feed to their young. Different vulture species have their own flair for getting their food, and their ability to use “tools” to get that food is unique among birds.

The Egyptian vulture breaks open ostrich eggs by dropping stones on them. Lammergeier or bearded vultures carry bones into the air and drop them onto favored rocky areas to break them open; the birds then fly down to eat the nutritional marrow inside, using their specialized tongue. In Africa, many different vulture types gather at a carcass to eat, but there is a pecking order: larger vultures get to eat first while the smaller ones wait their turn. Turkey vultures are found all over North and South America, found in open country, woodlands, farms, and in our backyard at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park! They are about 27 inches (70 centimeters) tall and have a wingspan of about 5.6 feet (1.7 meters). These vultures have a big, dark-brown body, a red, bald head, and pink legs and feet. They hunt for their food by smell, feast in groups, and prefer only the tender meat. Turkey vultures are a very important part of North America’s cleanup crew.

At the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the vultures are fed rabbits, rats, cow spleen, oxtails, and a fortified meat-based commercial carnivore diet. FAMILY LIFE By day, vultures spend their time in the sky searching for carrion. Unlike other raptors that must be able to maneuver quickly to swoop down on prey, vultures only have to stay in flight for hours at a time, high enough to have a good field of vision to spot food. They’re specially built for this task with a huge expanse of wing feathers and a short tail. They rarely flap their wings, preferring to soar gracefully on air currents. If they hit a warm pocket of air in the sky, called a wind thermal, some vultures have the ability to soar for hours without once flapping their wings! At night, they settle down to roost. White-backed vultures roost in a tree with a group of 10 or 12 others. Bearded or lammergeier vultures live in groups of up to 25 birds.

Ruppell’s griffons are social creatures that live in colonies that may have as many as 1,000 pairs; the colony is noisy in the evening with its members’ loud, harsh calls. Turkey vultures are only social when roosting; their roost may be a single, large tree used year after year. Vultures try to attract a mate by soaring in the sky around each other. The male shows off his flying skills by almost touching the female’s wing tip as he flies by to impress her. Normally, vultures are social birds that hunt in flocks, but when it comes to starting a family, they pair for life. Old World vultures make a nest in an overhung ledge, rocky crag, or tree, constructed with sticks and perhaps lined with grass. New World vultures don’t bother with nest making at all and merely lay their egg(s) in a cave or under a rocky overhang, on the ground under bushes or rock piles, or in tree hollows or fallen logs. The mother vulture lays one egg, typically, if she is one of the larger species, two eggs if she is one of the smaller vulture species.

Both parents work as a team to incubate and feed the chicks. Of course, chicks don’t drink milk; instead, the parent regurgitates meat into the chick’s mouth to feed it. When the chick is young the parents pick up small pieces of food and feed them to the chick, but as it gets older, it picks up these regurgitated food items on its own. Chicks remain in the nest for two to three months and continue to depend on their parents for a period of time after fledging, until they learn how to find and compete for food on their own. By the time they are ready to fledge, at three to six months old, the chicks are nearly the same size as their parents and are fully feathered, but their coloration is different. AT THE ZOO Vultures of all types have been in San Diego Zoo Global’s collection since our earliest days, starting with turkey and king vultures in the early 1920s and black vultures in 1926. Two Egyptian vultures arrived at the Zoo in 1947.

In the 1930s, a Southern California resident found a vulture nest and took its two chicks, which he believed to be California condors. The youngsters were confiscated by authorities and brought to our Zoo when they were a bit older, where it was determined that they were turkey vultures. We released them back into the wild when we felt they were old enough to venture out on their own. However, a few days later, we noticed that there were a lot of vultures hanging out in our trees, and one of them kept trying to get in our vulture aviary—it was one of the youngsters, and it had alerted its friends that there was free food to be had! In 1982, as we geared up to help save the highly endangered California condor, we honed our husbandry techniques on Andean condors as well as king, turkey, and black vultures in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s newly built “Condorminium” complex. One local wild turkey vulture squeezed under and around fencing and gates to be inside with the Andean condors!

He was soon placed in a room of his own that featured a specially prepared diet brought to him, the company of kin, and the opportunity, whenever he wanted, to exercise his wings. Today, both the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park have Andean and California condors. In addition, the Safari Park is home to several Old World vulture species: Ruppell’s and lappet-faced vultures can be seen from the Africa Tram tour; hooded and Egyptian vultures are on exhibit in Africa Woods. The Park has been successful in breeding many vulture species over the years: king, Ruppell’s, and hooded vultures, and Andean and California condors. Our Condor Cam gives viewers a look at a Calfornia condor family at the Park. Despite the vulture’s seemingly messy eating habits, it is a clean bird and bathes frequently. You may see our vultures bathing in their exhibit pool. Some of them even like getting doused with the hose by their keepers! You may also see wild turkey vultures that hang around the Safari Park.

They have excellent eyesight and can easily spot a keeper walking to an exhibit with a “free lunch.” CONSERVATION Things we humans put in our environment seem to be causing rapid declines in vulture populations. For example, in India and other parts of South Asia in the 1990s, huge numbers of vultures died. In 2000, San Diego Zoo Global joined the investigation to determine what was killing the birds. The outcome surprised everyone: an anti-inflammatory drug used by veterinarians and ranchers to help livestock. The vultures were eating livestock that had been treated by the drug, became sick, and died. Efforts were made to restrict the use of the drug in livestock. Poachers in Africa and Asia are known to poison the carcasses of elephants they have killed, after they take the tusks, to kill any vultures that come to clean up the mess, believing the gathering birds might reveal the scene of the crime. Ranchers frustrated by large cat attacks on their livestock poison cattle carcasses to kill the carnivores, but the poison also kills the vultures that come to pick the carcass clean.

And vultures die from eating meat killed by hunters using lead bullets; the birds slowly die from lead poisoning. A study done in southern Africa revealed that about 25 percent of the white-backed vultures Gyps africanus tested had high levels of lead in their blood. The California condor Gymnogyps californianus, white-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis, Indian vulture Gyps indicus, slender-billed vulture Gyps tenuirostris, and red-headed vulture Sarcogyps calvus are at critical risk. To conserve these graceful scavengers, breeding programs, education, and awareness programs have been started for endangered vultures by organizations like The Peregrine Fund and Vulture Rescue. San Diego Zoo Global is significantly involved in the California Condor Recovery Program. There are people fighting for these birds, and so can you! Place trash in the right bin, don’t use dangerous chemicals, dispose of harmful substances responsibly, and recycle. If you are a hunter, please use non-lead bullets. These are all ways that you can help wildlife, including those misunderstood vultures.

You can also help us bring vulture species back from the brink by supporting the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy . Together we can save and protect wildlife around the globe. LIFE SPAN Vultures | Botswana Wildlife Guide Vultures | Botswana Wildlife Guide Botswana Wildlife Guide on Vultures There are eight species of vulture in Africa of which five are found in Botswana namely Hooded, White-backed, Lappet-faced, White headed and Cape Griffon. Very rare sightings of the Egyptian Vulture have been recorded. Vultures are often the first to arrive at a carcass after a kill or the first to pick up a dead animal. One of the defining images of Africa is that of vultures sitting in trees waiting for a predator to finish feeding. It is not uncommon to see a number of species of vultures at a carcass at the same time as there is little completion between them due to them feeding on different parts of the carcass. The beaks of each species indicate what they prefer feeding on.

For example the small hooked beak of the Hooded Vulture is ideal for small crevasses to pick out titbits, whereas the large beak of the Lappet-faced allows it to feed on tougher, larger pieces. Vulture cannot fly for long periods but they can soar for hours on thermals, and this is the reason why they only take flight when the day heats up. Vultures are predominantly scavengers but they have been known to kill their own food, with the lappet-faced often killing rodents and hares. Hooded Vultures are known to feed on insects and I have personally watched them feeding on beetles at dung heaps. Vultures were once severely persecuted when it was still mistakenly believed that they killed domestic livestock. Poisoned meat was set out which killed the vultures after they fed on it. Botswana Safari and Tour Packages Customer Support Tel: +27 21 424 1037 Fax: +27 21 424 1036 Vultures and Condors The number of vulture species which are now considered Endangered, Threatened, Vulnerable, or Rare is now at a very high level.

A very real risk of extinction exists for several species, a fact probably little realised by the general public. This site exists to raise awareness of the various different species, what makes them special and where they stand in the fight to survive. Please address questions regarding the vulture, or this Web site, to Loadstar . Various photographers kindly permitted their images to be displayed here. They have my sincere thanks for their generosity, as without them Web sites like mine would be sadly lacking. I only hope I have done their work justice.ï¿½ Photo submissions are warmly welcomed, but no book scans please. All content of this site, except where specified, is ï¿½copyright Maxine Annabell, 1998-2000. Content of Loadstar's Lair may not be copied or reproduced without written permission.ï¿½ ï¿½ Kruger Park Birding | Vultures<br>Birding Raptor Guide Birding Raptor Guide Image : White-backed Vultures Vultures are among the most dramatic raptors. Traditionally, they've enjoyed bad press because of their grotesque appearance and scavenging nature.

Perhaps we project the darker sides of human nature onto these birds, which seem to embody our worst traits of greed, selfishness and preying on the vulnerable. The best place to find vultures is obviously at a kill. They are most often seen in the central plains around Satara and the eastern grasslands where most of the grazers and their predators are found. There have been sightings of the rare Egyptian Vulture at Tshokwane and at Lugmag Dam south-west of Satara, while the uncommon Palm-nut Vulture has been recorded at Makuleke and Pafuri in the north. To watch the interaction of vultures at a kill is like witnessing the unbridled nature of food politics. The Shangaan proverb that translates as 'where the vultures assemble, there is a kill' refers to the fact that when people gather together there is always a purpose in mind. Vultures fight unashamedly over whatever scraps they can get, and when they descend on the proverbial trough, their grim determination is evident - these birds can consume a kilogram of meat in a minute and strip a carcass within hours.

Vultures are, however, great ecologists, having a high sense of personal hygiene and are a manifestation of the adage of patience as a virtue . They clean the veld of carrion, thereby minimising the impact of animal disease, and they bathe regularly in rivers after gorging themselves at a kill. Almost all the vultures in Africa are represented in Kruger, the main exception being the Lammergeyer, which is restricted to the Kwazulu-Natal Drakensberg, and the Palm-nut Vulture, which is found on the eastern seaboard (rarely seen in Kruger). The Park has thus become a vulture sanctuary, mainly because of the predator activity on the ground, and secondly because of poisoning in non-protected areas of southern Africa. "Natural history" writer "Bob Scholes" believes that up to 74 000 larger animals are killed by lions, hyaenas and other carnivores in the Park each year, providing an ample food source for the resident vulture population. Vultures spend most of their time in the air, soaring high on thermal currents and keeping a close watch for animal activity on the ground. They have incredibly sharp eyesight.

When they spot a kill, they will descend onto nearby trees very quickly and patiently wait for up to 36 hours to get their share of the pickings. Several different species will gather in an uneasy truce waiting for the appropriate moment to strike. Physically, all vultures appear built for scavenging. They have strong, hooked beaks that can tear a carcass open but unlike other birds of prey, their feet are not suited to catching live animals. The main exception appears to be the Hooded Vulture - as the smallest and most prone to being bullied off a carcass, it has diversified its diet to include termites and small animals such as lizards. Shangaan Folklore In Shangaan folklore the vulture, Koti , is associated with dreams and the ability to see into the future. Traditionalists say the White-backed Vulture's habit of roosting in dead trees allows it to dream of death, thereby guiding it to a carcass the next day. Some sangomas claim the head of a White-headed Vulture, mixed with other muthi, enables one to predict the future, and is particularly effective in picking winners at the horse races.

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) Afrikaans: Witrugaasvoï¿½l The White-backed Vulture is the most common vulture in Kruger. There are approximately 2 000 pairs in the Park, concentrated mostly in the dry, lightly wooded grasslands of the east and mopaneveld of the north. They are the most gregarious of vultures, often roosting in large communes where they sleep with their heads tucked under their wings. They often soar at great heights during the day and depend on either the Bateleur or other vultures to lead them to a kill. When the mammalian scavengers move off the carcass, the White-backed Vulture swoops down and rushes in, often driving off other vultures through their sheer weight of numbers. They are voracious eaters. Peter Steyn records that about 50 White-backed Vultures consumed 23kg of meat in three minutes flat, 'an awesome spectacle... all that remained was skin, bones and a bare patch of dusty earth where the scrimmage had taken place.' The satisfied birds, covered in dust and caked with blood, then retired to their nearest bathing place to wash off.

Their eagerness to get at the meat can be their undoing. There are reports of White-backed Vultures being killed by other vultures after climbing inside the body cavity of large mammals and getting trapped. White-backed Vultures nest mostly in acacia trees, often above Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver nests. When mating, they sound like rhinos in distress. White-backed Vulture Characteristics Safari Ecology: African Vultures African Vultures Adult White-backed Vulture in flight - note white under-wing coverts. So, it's time to return to the savannah I think, and although I've not been out for a while now, I've spent some of the day thinking about vultures, having been reviewing a paper on their distributions. So I thought it would be a good opportunity to think about these overlooked, but rather important birds. White-headed Vulture, Tarangire, July 2010 Mixed Vultures, white-backed, Ruppell's and Lappet-faced, Manyara Ranch Jan 2011 Let's start by looking at the vultures we get here in East Africa and working out how to identify them.

Some, like the above white-headed vulture are always easy - that profile is obvious even in babies. Same goes for the biggest of our East African species, the Lappet-faced, to the right. But how about the other two common species - Ruppell's Griffon Vulture, and African White-backed? These aren't always so easy. Adults are OK - Ruppell's have pale ends to their feathers, resulting in a scaly look whilst adult white-backed have, well, white backs... But the immatures and (particularly) juveniles are not so easy at times, and if their white-back isn't showing, how do you know? First, you need to decide if it's an adult or not. Look again at the mixed fulture flock on the right here - the second bird from the front has a clear white ruff around the neck - the first bird has a brown one. That's a very good hint that your second bird is an adult. Similarly, look at the birds in the back row and you'll see another white ruff on the bird immediately left of the back-row Lappet.

This bird also has a huge pale horn-coloured beak and scales - a typical adult Ruppell's, whilst the second from the front is uniformly pale and has a rather thiner and pointier dark, beak - a typical adult white-backed. So, all is well and good with the adults now you can age them (see the other adult white-backed there?), but what about the juveniles? White-backed and Ruppell's Vultures squabbling, Manyara Ranch, Jan 2011 This is harder - the Ruppell's only get the scales and pale bill as they get older, but the bill shape is the same. So start by looking at the two adults at the back of the earlier picture to get a handle on bill-shape, and then look at the squabbling birds on the left. The two having a go at each other are obviously Ruppell's (neither is a juvenile, though the bird on the left still has the dark bill and brown ruff so it's obviously immature) and the bird looking right at the front is clearly a White-backed - much thinner beak.

The birds are a little better behaved in the picture below, and you should be able to start getting you eye into those beak differences which are all you've really got (bar size) on the real juveniles. And, of course, if you're in southern Tanzania you're not likely to find Ruppell's at all, though they do wander from time to time. Which means, I'm afraid, that flight identification of juveniles is really, really tricky - I don't think it's possible to be certain all the time. Feeding Vultures, Ruppell's Griffon and White-backed The other vulture you're likely to see in Tanzania is the Hooded Vulture, and I can't seem to find any of my own pictures here, but there are plenty of good ones online , and it's not hard to identify - small, thin beak, pink head, etc.

And, when I first came to east Africa, you also used to see Egyptian Vultures all the time (again, the adults are easy to identify, black and white plumage with a bright yellow face, though immatures are possibly confusable with Hooded - check the length/shape of the tail (shortish and square = hooded, long and diamond shaped = Egyptian) and the colour of the face (pink = hooded, black or yellow for Egyptian)), but sadly no more - an immature seen in Serengeti and reported to the Tanzania bird atlas recently is the first sign of breeding in the region for a while. Why not, you ask? I have no idea - probably the biggests mystery decline at the moment, so if you've any ideas let us know! Right, ID sorted, what's to like about vultures? Most people see them as pretty disgusting scavengers, with no redeeming features. But in fact they're very useful - not only do their early morning movements give you a good idea of where the lions might have made a kill, but imagine what happens when you get rid of them.

They're incredibly efficient scavengers, known to be more efficient than their mammalian competitors - the flock pictures from Manyara Ranch Conservancy in January were feeding on a wildebeest killed by lions and within 30 minutes had finished the remaining half of the carcas, leaving just bones and a few tatters of skin. Not bad! So, take them away, and their competitors - the jackals, hyaenas and feral dogs will take over, being freed from these highly efficient birds. In fact, this is exactly what has happened in India, where poisoning by Diclofenac killed off nearly all the vultures in just 10 years, with a massive increase in rabies and anthrax too suggested to be caused by the decline of vultures and subsequent increase in mammalian scavengers and uneaten carrion. Not nice, huh? We should be glad of vultures and ensure we reverse African declines too... How they achieve this efficiency has long been known - foraging vultures keep an eye on each other, and once they find a carcass different species (in general) tackle different bits .

Typically the smaller species - white-headed and hooded are the first to arrive at a carcass and they might have a peck at the eyes and other soft parts, but they're not strong enough to rip through the thick skin, so have to attract the attention of larger species. For the thickest skinned carcasses, only the Lappet-faced can cut through, though White-backed and Ruppell's can tackle many. Generally, once the carcass is opened, White-backed and Ruppell's take all the nice soft meat. White-headed and Lappet-faced then come back in and will take all the tough bits - skin and tendons in particular. Finally, the scraps are cleaned up by hooded and Egyptian, with their fine beaks for cleaning around joints, etc. All very efficient, and obviously strongly avoured by evolution because new world vultures (which we now think again are probably raptors , btw), asian vultures and even extinct vulture populations from long ago all seem to have the same three groups . White-backed Vulture in Baobab, Tarangire, Oct 2009 So, much to be interested in vultures really.

And they do make for wonderful sunset shots to leave you with! Posted by weavers&whatnot at 10:31 Vultures - Facts, Diet & Habitat Information Image Source Vultures are medium to large sized Raptors or birds of prey. There are two types of Vultures, the Old World Vultures who belong to the Accipitridae family along with Buzzrds, Kites and Eagles who are found in Africa, Asia and Europe, and New World Vultures who belong to the Cathartidae family which also includes Condors who are found in the Americas. There are around 30 different species of Vulture throughout the world except the continents of Antarctica and Oceania. There are 8 species of Vultures in Africa including the Hooded Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, White headed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Palmnut Vulture, Cape Griffon, Ruppel’s Griffon and White-backed Vulture. Africa’s White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) is an Old World Vulture who is closely related to the European Griffon (Gyps fulvus). It ranges from Mauritania, east to Ethiopia and south through East Africa to South Africa.

Old World and New World Vultures are not related. They are collectively called Vultures because they are simialr in appearance and they are believed to be connected through evolutionary status rather than DNA. A group of Vultures is known as a ‘venue’ and when the group is seen in the air, circling together, it is called a ‘kettle’. Use the information below to find out more about the White-backed Vulture’s characteristics, habitat, diet, behaviour and reproduction. White-backed Vulture Characteristics The White-backed Vulture is a medium sized bird which measures around 94 centimetres (37 inches) in length and weighs between 4 and 7 kilograms (9 – 16 pounds). It has a wingspan of 4 – 5.5 feet (1.2 – 1.7 metres). Its wings are very broad and its tail feathers are short. Down feathers are present on its head and neck and it has a white neck ruff. ADVERTISEMENT As its name suggests, the back of this Vulture is white in colour which contrasts with its dark plumage. As these Vultures age, their plumage becomes paler and plainer, especially the females.

Vultures have muscular legs, sharp talons and sharp bills. The African White-backed Vulture lacks neck feathers which prevents it from becoming soiled when dipping into a carcass. Ticks and Mites and other parasites will not stay on the neck of the Vulture for too long as the neck is exposed to the suns ultra violet rays to kill bacteria. The vulture also loves to rub its neck on rocks to clean. Vultures have incredible eyesight during the day which enables them to spot their prey while soaring through the sky, a Vulture can spot a large animal carcass from around 4 miles away on open grassland or savanna plains. Their vision is not so good at night. Vultures also have a very well developed sense of smell which also helps them to find their food. White-backed Vulture Habitat The preferred habitats of the Vulture are deserts, savannas and grassland near a water source. It also inhabits wooded country with game animals and livestock, up to 3,000 metres above sea level. White-backed Vulture Diet, Hunting and Feeding Vultures are carnivores and scavengers and feed mainly on carrion of freshly killed animals.

Flocks of Vultures can be observed soaring over the Savannas, searching for carcasses and sometimes following ungulates as they undertake their regular migrations. Vultures will also eat scraps from human habitats. Most birds of prey will feed on live prey, however, Vultures are specialized ‘eaters of the dead’. It is not an uncommon sight to see a group of different species of Vulture feeding on a dead animal at the same time. On a huge carcass, such as a dead elephant, hundreds, sometimes a thousand Vultures can be seen sqabbling over the kill, making grunts and goose-like hisses and cackles. The scrum of vultures can be seen dipping their long, bare necks under the skin of the carcass or crawling into the ribcage as they feed on the dead remains. After gorging themselves, the vultures may bathe together with other species at a favourite site, or rest with their wings spread and backs to the sun. Despite their ghastly habits, vultures are one of the fussiest birds when it comes to cleanliness.

Vultures can eat as well as digest meat, in any stage of decay and can even endure diseases that would kill any other animal. Vulture stomach acid is exceptionally corrosive, allowing them to safely digest putrid carcasses infected with Botulinum toxin, hog cholera, and anthrax bacteria that would be lethal to other scavengers. This also enables them to use their reeking, corrosive vomit as a defense when threatened. If a dead animal has a very thick hide which the vulture cannot get into, it waits for a larger scavenger to eat first. Vultures are known to strip meat, skin and even feathers, leaving only the skeleton of the animal remaining, however, some vultures will also eat bones, along with the other parts of an animal. Vultures seldom attack healthy animals, however, they may kill a wounded or sick animal. White-backed Vulture Behaviour Vultures are generally solitary animals although they will fly in focks when circling prey. Vultures can fly at speeds of 48 kilometres per hour (30 miles per hour).

Vultures are high flying birds with the Ruppell’s Vulture being the world’s highest flyer with a record of 37,000 feet. Vultures can fly for a very long time, without becoming tired, as they glide on the thermal updrafts which gives them a ‘free lift’. They fly in circular motions in order to gain height. Vultures have a unique way of cooling themselves in the African heat by urinating. This not only cools them, but disinfects their legs which kills any germs they may have picked up walking through the carcasses. The main predators of the Vultures are Hawks, Snakes and Wild cats. To get away from any danger the vulture will bring up what it has just eaten, or some projectile vomit that will smell awful for a few days if it touches you. White-backed Vulture Reproduction The White-backed Vulture breed at the beginning of the dry season. They breed in savanna trees in west and east Africa, nesting in loose colonies of between 2 – 13 birds. Vultures tend to have just one mate per year.

Female Vultures lay one egg at a time in a platform nest made from leaves and sticks built in trees or cliffs. The same nest might be used for a number of years. Eggs are incubated for around 50 days. Young Vultures are dark in colour with light brown streaks on their feathers. Young Vultures are fed by both parents until they fledge at around 120 – 130 days. Vultures mature at around 5 – 7 years old. The life span of a Vulture can be up to 30 years in captivity, 15 – 20 years in the wild. White-backed Vulture Conservation Status The White-backed Vulture is classed as ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List (2007). However, conservationists in South Africa are warning that vultures are endangered and could soon become extinct because they are being hunted down for use by traditional healers. Other factors of their decline include habitat loss due to agriculture, declines in wild ungulate populations which reduces the availability of carrion on which to feed, drowining in farm reservoirs, persecution and poisoning.

A number of protected areas in Africa hold populations of white-backed vultures, including Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, a World Heritage Site. Recommended measures include establishing legal protection for the species in all range countries, establishing a vulture monitoring network, and determining the most significant threats and seeking solutions. More Vulture Fun Facts There is a belief that the Vultures have the power to predict everything from winning lottery numbers to football scores. New World Vultures hunt by smell and detect the carcass starting to decay by the gas Mercaptan given off at the start of the decaying period. Old World Vultures are in the same family as the Hawks and Eagles these can not smell their food they hunt by sight only. You cannot see a Vultures ear because a fine skin covers the ear to stop blood and other bits getting in when they are feasting on the carcass of a dead animal. Vultures have the same ancestor as storks.

List of Vultures Eurasian Black Vulture or Monk Vulture, Aegypius monachus Griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Gyps himalayensis Hooded Vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus Indian White-Rumped vulture, Gyps bengalensis Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus barbatus Lappet-faced Vulture, Torgos tracheliotus Long-billed Vulture or Indian Vulture, Gyps indicus Palm-nut vulture, Gypohierax angolensi Rüppell’s vulture or Rüppell’s griffon vulture, Gyps rueppelli Slender-billed Vulture, Gyps tenuirostris

Question: Which type of bird can be Lappet-faced, White-headed, Hooded or Egyptian?
Answer: Vulture